Clothes-drier



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANFORTH JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJ. B. WORDEN AND WM. CADWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLOTHES-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,974, dated August 2, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, DANFORTH JOHNSON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Clothes-Drier; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, Figure l, being a top view of the clothes drier; Fig. 2, a. central, vertical section thereof; Figs 3, and 4, views, in perspective, of parts detached.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Into a base B, is inserted a suitable standard, or spindle, A, so as to turn freely therein. Upon this spindle slides a collar E; and on the top is a socket cap D, which may be simply held in place by a screw or pin g, but is allowed to turn around freely on the spindle. Both the cap and the collar are provided with eyes (Z, d, and e, e, respectively, which are cast therewith, so't-hat both cap and collar are each cast in one piece, as shown in Figs. 3, and 4, thus rendering the construction very cheap.

To the eyes e, e, of the collar E, are jointed the supporting arms C, C, by Straps f, f', bent around said eyes and around the ends of said arms, which are made of wood; and to the eyes el, cl, of the cap D, are jointed flexible braces, or stays, H, H, the other ends of which are jointed to the arms C, C, re-v spectively, by staples 7L, t, or their equivalents. Other staples C, c, of brass, or other material which will not stain by rustinO', are driven into the tops of the arms C, (j, at regular distances apart; and through them are strung the cord or cords G, as represented, for supporting the clothes. There may be a set of holes a, a, (Fig. 1,) in the spindle A, to receive a pin Z), at different heights, -in order to sustain the collar E, at a convenient height till the clothes are placed on the cords; after which they have no use.

When the clothes drier is not in use, the

collar E, is allowed to slide down on the spindle till the arms C, C, are brought into a nearly vertical position, close to the spindle, and consequently occupying but little space. And when it is to be used, the collar E, is raised and supported by the pin b, at a suitable height. The clothes are then hung upon the cords; and by their weight drawing upon the flexible braces H, H, which serve as fulcratherefor, raise the inner ends of the arms, (as shown by red lines in Fig. 2,) the collar E, freely sliding up on the spindle till thecords are drawn taut, and thereby support the clothes, perfectly, and without sagging. Then, as the cords G, G, become wet and shrink, the rods H, H, being flexible, bend sufliciently to allow the necessary contraction of the said cords, so that there is never the slightest danger of any part breaking, of getting out of order. Thus, the flexible braces H, H, are freely sliding collar E, cause the arms C, C, to adapt themselves to the cords, C, C, and at the same time keep them constantly straightened as taut as desired.

I do not claim the mere employment of a sliding collar E, and supporting braces H, H, in the construction of clothes driers; but I am not aware that a collar has ever before been used, so as to slide freely on the spindle by the weight of the clothes themselves, and thereby to cause the lines to straighten automatically, and at the same time, by the use of flexible braces H, H, to allow the cords to shrink freely without breaking or straining any part of the clothes drier; therefore,

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The employemnt of flexible braces H, H, in combination with the freely sliding collar E, on the spindle A, for the purpose herein specified.

DANFORTH JOHNSON. [Ls] Witnesses:

P. D. MIcHLEs, H. W. ZIMMERMAN. 

